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If France plays England in the World Cup quarterfinal, Walcott claims that Mbappe is a “different beast” but would “struggle” against Walker.

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Theo Walcott claims that although Kylian Mbappe is a “different beast” he would “struggle” against Kyle Walker if France and England meet in Qatar.

  • Walcott says Mbappe is no physical match for Walker
  • Adds Ligue 1 is not the same as Premier League
  • Nations could meet in World Cup quarter-finals

WHAT HAPPENED? The French international is currently leading the goal-scoring charts in the 2022 World Cup with three goals to his name. However, former England international Walcott believes that Mbappe’s mettle will be tested if he goes up against Manchester City full-back Walker, who he believes is physically more dominant than the Paris Saint-Germain forward. Walcott also claimed that playing in the Premier League is a completely different ball game than playing in Ligue 1.

WHAT THEY SAID: “I would love to see it. I really would. I feel like Mbappe would struggle against his [Walker’s] physicality, if I’m honest,” The Southampton winger told talkSPORT. ”He plays in the French league, which is a different kettle of fish to the Premier League and Walker has so much experience in the Champions League. So it would be a great test. I think we all want to see it.”

However, he ultimately declined to pick a winner between the two, adding: “I couldn’t tell you who would win that – because Mbappe is a different beast, he’s on a different level at the moment.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: England can potentially face France in the quarter-finals if both nations successfully negotiate their respective challenges in the round of 16. Walker and Mbappe did go up against each other previously in the 2021-22 edition of the Champions League group stage when Manchester City locked horns with PSG. Both teams won their respective home matches with Mbappe scoring at the Etihad Stadium in a 2-1 defeat.

IN THREE PHOTOS:

 

Mbappe Walker (embed only)Getty ImagesKylian Mbappe France 2022Getty ImagesKyle Walker England 2022Getty Images

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND AND FRANCE? The Three Lions will face Senegal in the last 16 while France will take on Poland, with both matches set to take place on Sunday.

Suarez’s response to Uruguay’s handball that resulted in Ghana’s World Cup elimination: “I didn’t miss the penalty.”

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Luis Suarez added fuel to the rivalry between Uruguay and Ghana after refusing to apologise for the handball that led to their 2010 World Cup exit.

  • Suarez handballed goal-bound header in 2010
  • Gyan missed penalty, Ghana eliminated
  • Uruguayan refused to apologise for actions

WHAT HAPPENED? In a now infamous World Cup moment, Suarez stopped a header from Dominic Adiyiah on the line using his hands, with Asamoah Gyan blazing the resulting penalty off the bar and over. Having been sent off, the Uruguayan then erupted into raucous celebrations near the tunnel as Ghana were later eliminated on penalties, although Suarez feels he has nothing to be sorry for.

WHAT THEY SAID: When asked about the events of 2010 during a press conference, the 35-year-old replied bluntly: “I didn’t miss the penalty. It’s not my fault.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The forward, who has scored 68 goals in 136 caps for Uruguay, urged the Ghanaians to move on, arguing: “It’s 12 years ago. It’s the past. I’ve played against [Giorgio] Chiellini too [who he bit in the 2014 World Cup], and we shook hands.”

IN THREE PHOTOS:

Luis Suarez Uruguay Ghana 2010Getty ImagesAsamoah Gyan Uruguay Ghana 2010Getty ImagesLuis Suarez Uruguay Ghana 2010Getty Images

DID YOU KNOW? Ghana have become the first team to record consecutive 3-2 results at the World Cup (for or against) since Uruguay in 2010, and the fourth side overall to do so (also Germany in 1994 and Switzerland in 1934).

WHAT NEXT FOR URUGUAY? Suarez’s comments come before a huge 2022 World Cup fixture in Group H on Friday. Ghana would be safely through with a point, while Uruguay need a victory to be in with a chance of qualifying for the last 16.

 

Lukaku is still injured, thus Hazard benched for Belgium’s crucial World Cup match against Croatia.

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Roberto Martinez left Eden Hazard out of Belgium’s lineup for Thursday’s crucial match against Croatia, with Romelu Lukaku still absent due to injury.

  • Hazard replaced by Trossard up front
  • Lukaku remains absent through injury
  • Belgium need three points to ensure qualification

WHAT HAPPENED? Hazard had started both of Belgium’s opening group matches, while Lukaku’s thigh injury means he has to settle for a space on the bench yet again. In-form Brighton forward Leandro Trossard takes Hazard’s place, in what is a must-win game for the Red Devils.

Belgium line-up: Courtois (GK); Alderweireld, Dendoncker, Vertonghen; Meunier, Witsel, Castagne, De Bruyne (C), Carrasco; Mertens, Trossard

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Martinez’s shake up in the starting eleven comes after two stale performances from his side in Qatar. Belgium scraped past Canada in their opener before falling to a shock 2-0 defeat to Morocco on matchday two, creating rifts on and off the field that caused Martinez to call a meeting to “get things off their chest”. All the pressure is on Thursday’s matchup, as anything less than three points could see FIFA’s second-ranked men’s team eliminated at the first hurdle.

IN A PHOTO:

Hazard and Lukaku find themselves on the bench four years on from the last World Cup…

Eden Hazard Romelu Lukaku World Cup 2018Getty Images

WHAT NEXT FOR BELGIUM? The Red Devils will fail to qualify for the last 16 without a win, which would be their first group-stage exit at a World Cup since 1998.

Global Tech Company Limited supports GIS at Honuta Border

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Mr Parkerru Kumar, Director of Global Tech Company Limited, says the company’s good relationship with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has led to the construction and commissioning of a borehole facility for the outfit at the Honuta Border.  

He said the donation formed part of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to the country. 

Mr Kamar, handing over the GH¢40,000 facility, noted that personnel of the Service made a request to the Company for assistance, ‘reason we are here today.’ 

He asked Officers to call on the Company’s services, when needed, to ensure efficient maintenance. 

Mr Kumar also pleaded with the officers to take good care of the facility to effectively impact the purposes for which it was donated. 

Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCI), Mr Michael Kwadade, Volta Regional Commander of GIS, represented by ACI Smart Osei Bonsu, Sector Commander of the Kpedze Command, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Service to the Company for the timely delivery of the water facility to the Officers. 

He appealed for such facilities to be replicated to other border towns for the provision of potable drinking water for the men and women on the frontier. 

Two health officials at Manhyia government hospital at post

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The two health professionals at the centre of the controversy between the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and the Ashanti regional Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) are still at post at the Manhyia government hospital. 

     There were allegations on Wednesday that the nurse, who was verbally abused by Mr Alex Opoku Mensah, has been transferred from the hospital and was receiving some psychological treatment, while the house officer, the daughter of Mr Opoku Mensah, has been asked to stay home. 

          However, Dr Kamarudeen Korku Hussein, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, told the Ghana News Agency, during a visit to the facility on Thursday morning that, the two staff were still at post. 

     He said the management gave them some few days to rest, but they were now back at post. 

     “Yes, the two staff are at post. 

     “We as management, officially gave them some few days to recover from the stress they are going through 

     “In fact, both of them are actually under stress and we asked them to rest and receive some form of psychological support and that is what we are providing”, he told the GNA. 

     Dr Hussein said all the staff were going about their normal duties at the wards and the consulting rooms. 

      The Ghana News Agency, however, saw that some of the nurses were wearing red arm bands, while some of the gates to the hospital had also been clad in red calico. 

     Some of the nurses, who spoke to the GNA on condition of anonymity, said they were waiting for a response from the government and would start a strike action as directed by the leadership of the GRNMA. 

    Meanwhile, the management of the NSS has suspended Mr Opoku Mensah to pave way for investigations into the alleged verbal assault on a nurse on duty at the Manhyia government. 

     A statement issued by the Scheme and signed by Mr Ambrose Entsiwah Junior, Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, said the decision was taken after an emergency meeting held by the management of the scheme on Wednesday November 30, 2022. 

      The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association had already issued a statement calling on the government and the Public Services Commission to sack of Mr Opoku Mensah as the Ashanti Regional NSS boss within 72 hours. 

     Mr Opoku Mensah is alleged to have verbally assaulted a nurse on duty at the Manhyia hospital after the nurse had a misunderstanding with a house officer, who happens to be the daughter of Mr Opoku Mensah.      

      According to the Association, the behavoiur of Mr Opoku Mensah makes him unfit to hold such a position as Director in the public service 

Newmont Africa-Akyem Mine supports 38th Farmers Day Celebration

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The Newmont Africa-Akyem Mine has presented farming equipment and assorted products worth more than GHS 200,000.00 to the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council and the Birim North District Assembly to promote the 38th Farmers Day Celebration. 

The donation, part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative, was intended to inspire farmers to remain committed to their field of work. 

Large buckets, motor tricycles, refrigerators, television sets, and various agriculture supplies were among the items provided. 

Mr Samuel Agyei-Ofosu, Newmont Africa’s Acting Social Responsibility Manager, presented the items and stated that the company remained a critical partner in the development and economic aspirations of the Eastern Region, as well as the Birim North District and other adjoining communities, thus the donation.  

He stated that as a corporation, they would continue to play a critical role in anchoring the local economy in these districts through programmes that would support farmers’ meticulous work. 

He said the annual commemoration of National Farmers’ Day was in accordance with Newmont’s objective of creating value and improving lives through sustainable and responsible mining, and the Newmont Akyem Mine remained an important partner in that. 

Mr Agyei-Ofosu reaffirmed that the company’s commitment to social development and community collaboration was a priority that must be met. 

“Newmont Africa continues to support our regional efforts in agriculture. Through your generous support, we can demonstrate the nation’s appreciation to our hardworking farmers,” he said. 

Receiving the items on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr John Donkor, the Regional Coordinating Director, expressed immense appreciation to Newmont Africa and assured the company that the items would be used for its rightful purpose. 

He advised farmers, especially the youth, to delve into farming so they could create employment for themselves and others in the region. 

He promised that the company would continue to thrive in creating more value for development projects to improve the standard of living for everyone, particularly farmers and residents. 

Threat of impeachment for the president of South Africa

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President Cyril Ramaphosa during an interview with Bloomberg at the South African Investment Conference hosted at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on Wednesday, November 18 2020. Pic: Waldo Swiegers / Bloomberg

The “Farmgate” controversy may lead to Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, being threatened with impeachment.

The president is charged with kidnapping the thieves and buying their silence in order to cover up a $4 million (£3.3 million) robbery from his property in 2020.

According to a leaked study from an independent panel, Mr. Ramaphosa may have violated an anti-corruption statute and abused his position.

He claims the money came from selling buffalo and has denied any wrongdoing.

Parliament has received the panel’s recommendations, which it will review and determine whether or not to use next week to begin the impeachment process.

Mr Ramaphosa is less than a month away from a conference which will decide if he can run for a second term with his party, the African National Congress (ANC), in 2024. The incident could be particularly damaging as Mr Ramaphosa ran for office on an anti-corruption ticket.

The ANC will hold a meeting with its executive on Thursday, where it is expected that the issue will be discussed.

The Farmgate scandal erupted in June, when a former South African spy boss, Arthur Fraser, filed a complaint with police accusing the president of hiding a theft of $4m from his Phala Phala farm in the north-east of the country in 2020.

Mr Fraser, who is a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma, alleged that the money could have been the proceeds of money-laundering and corruption, and accused the president of kidnapping and bribing the burglars.

Holding such a large amount of money in dollars could violate foreign exchange control laws.

Mr Ramaphosa has confirmed a robbery, but said the amount stolen was less than that alleged, and denied attempting to cover it up.

Some $580,000 which had been paid in cash for buffalo was stolen from under sofa cushions in the farmhouse, he said.

“I did not ‘hunt’ for the perpetrators of the theft, as alleged, nor did I give any instructions for this to take place,” he wrote in a submission to the panel’s report, according to AFP news agency.

The panel concluded that there were many unanswered questions, calling it a “very serious matter”.

Little information was kept about the man who supposedly paid the money for buffalo, it said, adding that he had still not collected the animals two and a half years later.

The panel also said it was strange that the money had been kept hidden in a sofa, rather than in a safe until it could be lodged in a bank account.

“We think that the president has a case to answer on the origin of the foreign currency that was stolen, as well as the underlying transaction for it,” the report said. It added: “The president abused his position as head of state to have the matter investigated and seeking the assistance of the Namibian president to apprehend a suspect.”

Namibian president Hage Geingob has previously denied any involvement in the incident.

Source: BBC

 

 

Nigeria will eliminate English in junior high school

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High School female students wears a face mask while they reads in a classroom at Ireti Junior Grammar Schol, Ikoyi, Lagos on August 3, 2020 on the first day after resumption of classes after the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown. (Photo by Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Nigerian government has unveiled a plan to encourage the teaching of local languages to primary school students rather than English.

On Wednesday, Education Minister Adamu Adamu informed the media that the National Language Policy, a new framework, had been given the go-ahead to go into effect.

It states that the first six years of primary school instruction must be delivered in the student’s mother tongue.

Nigeria’s official language is English, which is also the language of instruction at all educational institutions.

But local languages will now take the centre stage, with the education minister saying “pupils learn much better” when they are taught in their own mother tongue.

He acknowledged that implementing the new policy would be challenging because it would “require a lot of work to develop materials to teach and get the teachers”.

Another challenge is the number of languages spoken in Nigeria – more than 600.

It’s not immediately clear when the government will start implementing the new system.

The Nigerian authorities suggest they will first provide teaching materials and teachers for the local languages before the implementation in earnest.

NPA enhanced the fuel margins for UPPF and BOST.

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The Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) margins on fuel have been increased, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has requested in a letter to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and other parties.

On this day, December 1, 2022, the order becomes operative.

The NPA requested that OMCs raise the UPPF margin on each liter of gasoline and diesel sold at the pumps from 36 pesewas to 47 pesewas. Additionally, there has been an 11 pesewas increase in the UPPF for Kerosine, LPG, and Premix fuel.

The increase is needed to ensure that, freight rates reflect current economic conditions in the country, According to the NPA,

The UPPF is used to support the transportation of petroleum products around the country to ensure that price of the product are the same in every part of the country irrespective of the location.

The letter has also asked the various players to also increase the BOST margin by 2 pesewas.  The BOST margin for Petrol, Diesel and kerosene have all gone up by 2 pesewas.

 

Hubtel expands its operations to Tamale in Ghana’s Northern Region.

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Hubtel, Ghana’s top brand for instant messaging, payments, and commerce, has extended its reach to the country’s northern region.

Hubtel has intensified its efforts to bring digital inclusion to every region of the country.

The company began operating in Cape Coast earlier this year and then launched a community engagement program in Koforidua, the city of flowers. This came after a year of successfully launching in Takoradi.

Tamale has now been designated as Hubtel’s seventh operational city in Ghana as of this announcement.

According to Population Stat, Tamale has a population total of 701,000, a growth projected to reach almost a million in 2026.

The introduction of Hubtel in Tamale will enhance the city’s digital commerce by offering flexible, seamless, and convenient digital transactions through its platform.

Natives of the city can now find and pay for everyday essentials with ease.

In addition to offering an all-inclusive platform for customers to find and pay for everyday essentials from nearby vendors and retailers, Hubtel is also providing a seamless retailer-customer engagement, making it easier for both parties to connect.

On launching in Tamale and what it means to the company, Head of Commercial and New Markets, Gershon Akoto, in an interview said: “Up until today, Hubtel users in Tamale have been able to send money and SMS. They were also able to pay for services like airtime, internet data, DSTv and GOTv. Today’s launch means they can even do more with the Hubtel App and website. Users can conveniently order for food, groceries and more on the Hubtel and receive it within minutes in the comfort of their homes or offices.

“Today’s float has helped us reach out to new customers and interact with potential partner retailers. Everyone has been very welcoming and we are very confident Hubtel will work with the people of Tamale for a long time to come,” he added.

The Head of E-commerce at Hubtel, Mrs. Elsie Bram, spoke about the launch and stated that the company’s goal is to make digital inclusion accessible to everyone.

“Our vision as a company is to be Africa’s most useful company; building a platform that everyone can find, pay and easily partake in the digital economy,” Mrs. Bram said.

“We want to be useful to both customers and retailers across Africa, and the only way to achieve that is by deliberately and strategically deploying our product and services to every part of Africa, starting from our homeland, Ghana. We recently overhauled our mobile application by redesigning the user experience, and among other useful features, adding a Health and Wellness feature where users have the option to order drugs from Pharmacies nearby. Hubtel wants to be your go-to app for everything you need to make life easier,” she added.

Businesses can use Hubtel to take payments from any mobile money, Visa or MasterCard user, in addition to that, individuals can send money to any mobile money or bank account, order for food, groceries, and more and track to receive them in minutes, buy airtime, data and pay bills on Hubtel.

 

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